How to wire multiple light sockets?

Solemhypnotic

Well-Known Member
How do I do it? I can't seems to find any useful info on the subject :(
I have a few unused light sockets and I want to wire them together, but I don't seems to understand parallel wiring.
What I'm looking to do it wire multiple sockets together so I can use more cfls at once.
 

Pipe Dream

Well-Known Member
IDK man, I always just use the adapters that fit on the bulb and plug into a wall outlet. Then there are these Y attatchments that allow you to screw in 2 bulbs instead of one. You can plug them into a surge protector, or a clamp light or build a home-made reflector or something.
 

Solemhypnotic

Well-Known Member
I picked up a few that I'm going to use. I just have a few extra socks I want to put to good use, without having 3 cords to plug in.
 

FatMarty

Well-Known Member
The Center contact in the light sockect goes to the Black wire.
The part with the screw threads goes to the White wire.

To wire multiple sockets twist all White wires together and connect to Nuetral lead which is the White wire in the home wiring.
Next twist all Black wires together and connect to Hot or Black lead in home wiring.

When you look at a plug there is a wide blade, a short blade, and the round blade beneath them.
The wider blade is the Nuetral or White wire. This is often marked with a ridge or line or whatever in molded cables.
The thinner blade is the Hot or Black wire, and the round blade is the Safety Ground.


With CFL's it is important to wire them correctly because if the socket leads are switched up the cfl's can stay on dim when turned off.
It comes from the ballast design in the cfl bulbs; so you need to get wire correctly polarized to avoid hassles.

cflReflector.jpg

A good reflector greatly helps CFL's wired up like this.
 

adamz123x

Active Member
As long as you have a white and a black you are "wiring the cable in series" but it is technically parallel. If you take out a light bulb they won't all go out.
 
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